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Adjustable Steelwork Connectors
Girder Clamp
Flush Clamp
The Need
The technology area of connections for steel structures has not kept pace with the material and design advances in the steel area. There is a need to develop connections that are faster and easier to assemble. Connections are a labor intensive and time intensive part of steel erection and innovations are needed.
The Technology
Two new steelwork connectors from Lindapter North America make it possible to bolt I-beams together without drilling steel or welding the members. Because there is no drilling, the integrity of the steelwork remains intact. There is no welding so the connection is speedy, simple and adjustable if required.
The Girder Clamp is a rigid assembly for securing secondary steelwork to structural members. Each Girder Clamp comprises: two Lindapters per bolt, nuts, washers, and a pre-drilled location plate. A Girder Clamp can accommodate any size or type of steelwork by adjusting the location plate dimensions. Furthermore, it can cope with differences in height between primary and secondary steelwork and/or angular displacement between the two members.
The second type, called Flush Clamp, is a bolted connection that joins the flanges of intersecting I-beams. The Flush Clamp is an assembly consisting of four each of six basic components : Body, Special Bolt, Special Washer, Flat Washer, Hex Nut and Half Nut. This assembly forms a clamp which is suitable for connecting beams of varying flange widths (3" to 7") and thickness (3/16" to 3/4"). The Flush Clamp is designed ideally for the connection of secondary steel work to primary steel work without the need for on-site power in structural engineering applications, or for the connection of overhead conveyor systems or lifting equipment in the material handling industry.
The Benefits
- The Girder Clamp provides load bearing capacity with a 5:1 factor of safety, while the Flush Clamp provide a 3:1 factor of safety.
- The clamps allow quick and simple on-site adjustments.
- Any size and type of steelwork can be joined by adjusting the location plate dimensions.
- The connection can also cope with differences in height or angular displacement between members.
Status
Girder Clamps from Lindapter proved invaluable for securing pipework throughout the Roche Pharmaceuticals plant in Scotland. They were recently used when positioning a new module on the Amoco-operated Lomond Platform. Lindapter Girder Clamps were also selected in a project to upgrade the monorail beam which supports the maintenance platforms on Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Barriers
The clamps are not designed for connection of primary steelwork and not intended for a permanent structural steelwork. There are no data regarding their capabilities in accommodating seismic loads.
Points of Contact
- T. Doran, Lindapter North America Inc., 3924 Varsity Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, Phone: (734) 677-2305, Fax : (734) 677-2339
Refrences
- I-Beam Clamps Save Time, Engineering News Records, T-93
- Lindapter Home Page, www.lindapterna.com
Disclaimer Statement
Neither the Construction Industry Institute nor Purdue University in any way endorses this technology or represents that the information presented can be relied upon without further investigation.